Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Minister Al Hawkins (left) and Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dale Kirby attended the meeting of the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training in Halifax, N.S. on Thursday, Jan. 18, where an agreement was reached to develop a mental health framework for public and post-secondary education in Atlantic Canada. - File photo

HALIFAX, NS – Ministers from the Atlantic provinces reached an agreement Thursday to develop a mental health framework for public and post-secondary education.

The agreement materialized as part of the meeting of the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET) held in Halifax, N.S.

Education and early childhood development ministers as well as ministers of advanced education and learning from throughout the region were in attendance.

According to a news release from the Newfoundland and Labrador government, the proposed framework will contain specific goals and objectives that ministers would like to pursue both regionally and provincially.

“The framework is meant to be an overarching direction for mental health in Atlantic Canada and will contain key mental health themes and priorities that provinces would like to address to support the delivery of provincial services,” the release stated.

“The framework will also include key goals, objectives, and themes that are within the responsibilities of ministers of education and early childhood development and post-secondary education and training. The implementation of specific regional and provincial initiatives will continue to be the responsibility of each province.”

Ministers responsible for public and post-secondary education have directed their departments to prepare a draft Atlantic Mental Health Framework for their consideration in 2018.

The ministers believe that the framework should also reflect a comprehensive approach focused on equity, and be sensitive to diverse students and communities, including the establishment of strong relationships and partnerships among school systems, post-secondary education institutions, other government departments, non-government agencies, and community stakeholders, the release stated.